The elevator chimed softly as it reached the uppermost floor. Vial stepped out, escorted by a woman in a dark uniform. He immediately noticed the change in atmosphere.
Gone were the sterile walls and flickering lights of the lab floors. This level was opulent—polished marble tiles, towering windows draped with sheer curtains, and gilded light fixtures that cast a warm, commanding glow. It wasn't just a meeting floor. It was a throne.
Whoever occupied this space didn't just work here—they owned it.
They made their way down the corridor, the click of their shoes echoing through the silence. At the far end stood a single large set of double doors—sleek, dark wood with intricate carvings. Two female guards flanked it, each standing still with a rifle slung over her back and a sidearm strapped to her thigh.
The moment they approached, one guard raised a hand, halting them.
"Identity verification."
The escort nodded and presented a tablet. After a quick scan of Vial's face and a matching check, the tablet beeped once in confirmation.
"In the clear," the guard said. She then turned to knock firmly—twice—before opening the door partway.
The escort gave Vial a nod, then silently turned and walked away, her duty done.
The guards at the door spoke in unison. "Please head inside."
Vial stepped into the room.
It was even grander than the hallway—vaulted ceiling, a massive window casting beams of sunlight across the floor, and furniture that looked custom-made from rare wood and stone. The air was scented with something faint but refined—lavender, maybe.
At the far end of the room, sitting by a curved desk, was a woman.
She was striking.
Tall, poised, and every inch exuding grace and power. Her light blue hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, tied in a loose cascade that rested over one shoulder. A beauty mark sat just beneath her right eye, adding to her refined allure. Her clothes were formal but fashionable—a long-sleeved slate-blue dress that matched her aura of calculated elegance.
Behind her stood Rael, silent and watchful, hands clasped behind her back.
Shia was nowhere to be seen.
The woman's voice was smooth, yet carried unmistakable weight.
"You must be Vial."
He gave a slight nod. "I am."
She stepped forward, her heels clicking gently against the floor.
"I am Vivianne Legris – Overseer of this facility and Governor of Lysandea City. I've been waiting to meet you."
She stopped just a few paces in front of him, her eyes scanning him—not like a scientist or a soldier, but like a ruler sizing up something… invaluable.
"Welcome to the top floor, Vial. I imagine by now you've been told just how unique you are."
Vivianne gestured gracefully towards the chair opposite her, inviting Vial to take a seat. The roundtable, polished to a near-glow, felt both formal and intimate—its large, smooth surface surrounded by empty chairs, save for Vial's seat directly across from Vivianne. It was the type of table where high-ranking individuals gathered to discuss important matters, and yet, today, it felt like a quiet confrontation in a high-stakes meeting.
As Vial settled into the plush seat, Vivianne's demeanor remained calm and collected. She offered him a drink—something light, a simple gesture that seemed to reinforce her composed air.
Rael, ever efficient, stepped forward and handed Vial the drink, her gaze unwavering, as Vial muttered a soft "thanks" in return. Vivianne smiled subtly at the exchange but soon turned her attention back to Rael.
"Rael," she said, her voice cool and measured. "Where is Dr. Shia?"
Rael didn't hesitate. "She'll be here in a minute."
Vivianne nodded, her fingers lightly drumming the edge of her glass. "I see."
Before she could speak further, a sudden knock interrupted the quiet rhythm of the room. The door creaked open, revealing Dr. Shia. She stepped inside slowly, her posture tense but betraying none of her nervousness. The soft click of her heels on the polished floor echoed in the otherwise silent room as she made her way toward the table.
Vivianne's gaze softened ever so slightly as she acknowledged Shia's entrance.
"Dr. Shia," Vivianne welcomed her, her voice steady. "I trust you've come prepared with your findings. Please, proceed."
Shia's gaze flickered briefly towards Vial before she straightened, clearing her throat. With a deep breath, she started, her tone careful but firm.
"Ms.Vivianne" she began, her voice composed but taut. "I've completed the final analysis on Vial's genetic profile. I have conclusive results regarding his immunity—"
Vivianne's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were anticipating something more mundane. But as Shia continued, a flicker of unease passed through her expression.
"Vial," Shia continued, her voice tinged with awe, "is completely unaffected by the virus. There are no mutations, no markers of viral integration, nothing. His body is a clean, unaltered example of pre-virus genetics. His genome has completely bypassed the virus' effects, it's as if his body never even lived in a post - virus world."
Shia's words hung heavily in the air. She watched as Vivianne's expression slowly transformed from mild curiosity to full-blown shock. The surprise was evident on her face—Vivianne had not expected this. She had assumed Vial was just a man in a world where men were rare, but this revelation...
This was something entirely different.
Vivianne's mouth parted slightly as she processed the information, and for a moment, she seemed almost speechless. It wasn't just that Vial was a man in a world dominated by women—it was that he was something far more significant. Something that could alter everything.
"Unbelievable," Vivianne murmured, her voice quieter now, tinged with disbelief. "You mean to say... he's completely unaffected?"
Shia nodded solemnly. "Yes, Ms.Vivianne. No trace of the virus, nothing. Vial could be the key to understanding how to reverse or even prevent the spread of the virus. He's a biological anomaly—"
Vivianne leaned back in her chair, her gaze never leaving Vial. Her mind raced, turning over the implications of this discovery.
Was he a cure? A weapon? A relic of what humanity once was—or what it could be again?
"I never imagined..." Vivianne trailed off, her words lost in the magnitude of what Shia had just revealed.
For a moment, the room was thick with tension, each of them contemplating what this meant—not just for Vial, but for the entire world.